Archive for October, 2013

Make this easy Marge Simpson wig. Using the pattern attached, work until the hat is 16″ or so, randomly adding cables, then finish the crown as written. Stuff with quilt batting and you got it! I used Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega color # 133, 2 balls! You will have Homey all a-gog!

I refuse to admit that I am behind on my Christmas knitting so I’m celebrating Halloween a little extra this year. I have severe carpal tunnel that has been plaguing me . Surgery on righty has been completed, lefty is going under the knife in just a couple of months. Knitting has been slow going and crochet has been a little easier for me. That being said….here are some things that make me happy about Halloween.

This guy hangs out at the Destin Yarn Shop, Miramar Beach, FL 850-650-0006.

Yarn choice is arguably the most important part of planning your sweater but how do you know which yarn is suitable for your sweater? Lets look at a couple factors that will affect the yarn you choose to make your sweater.
1. Who Are You Knitting For

The first thing you’ll want to consider is who you are knitting this sweater for. Think about where they live, is it warm or cool? Where will you (or they) wear this sweater? Is it going to be for your next dinner party or for backpacking through the mountains. Once you have an idea of who will wear it and where they will wear it you can choose a yarn that will be suitable.
2. Care

The next thing you’ll want to think about is how much time you have to take care of your new favorite sweater. Do you want to take the time to hand wash or would you prefer to have a machine washable yarn? If you would rather have a machine washable yarn, look for superwash wool or cotton yarns. If you were thinking of using something a little bit more luxurious but want a sweater that is easy to care for, try using buffalo yarn as it can be machine washed and dried! If you are knitting for children, washable is probably a good option.
3. Fiber Content

The type of fiber you choose will greatly affect the feel and warmth of your sweater. Animal fibers like wool, alpaca and cashmere tend to be warm and soft to the touch. Plant fibers like cotton, bamboo and hemp tend to be cooler on the skin but great for those who are allergic to some animal fibers. To get the benefits of different fibers try using a blend.
4. Color

This is my favorite part of choosing yarn for my next sweater! Take a look at your wardrobe before you go to buy yarn and find something that will work with the clothing you wear most often. There is nothing so exciting as getting to wear your new sweater all the time! When you buy your yarn be sure that all of the skeins are from the same dye lot so you don’t end up with a section of a slightly different color. If you are using a hand dyed yarn with a lot of color variation, try alternating skeins every few rows so that your color blends nicely. One last thing to consider when you are choosing a color for your yarn is skin tone. Be sure that the yarn you choose compliments your skin tone so that you will look fabulous in your new sweater!
5. Price

The last thing you’ll need to think about when you are choosing yarn for your sweater is how much you are comfortable spending on yarn. My advice is, don’t skimp on yarn. You will be spending a lot of time and energy to create your sweater, choose a fiber that matches the care you have taken to create the sweater. The nicer the fiber, the more you will want to wear it. On the other hand if this is your first sweater and you are just testing the waters of sweater knitting maybe an inexpensive yarn would be prudent.

If you’d like to learn more about choosing the perfect yarn for your sweater, download our free Sweater Planning Guide. In this guide we talk about choosing a suitable yarn, how much yarn to buy and how to plan a sweater that you’ll love!

This guest post is a part of the 30 Day Sweater Challenge promo tour. Join us this month as we help 5,000 knitters around the world knit a sweater they’ll love, in 30 days. To sign up just visit 30daysweater.com/plymouthyarn and download your free Sweater Planning Guide. It will help you get started on the right foot! See you in October!

I’d like to introduce Kaelin Hearn, our new sales rep for Eastern Pennsylvania and New York. Kaelin began working at Plymouth in 2004 right out of high school and worked around her college courses. She started out in the warehouse, packaging and sorting shipments. Soon after, Kaelin began working on our computers and formatting patterns. She also assisted at photo shoots, contributing her fashion sense to our garment stylings. Some of you may know Kaelin from talking to her on the phone in customer service about yarn shop orders or pattern questions. She was our go-to girl!

Her passion and eagerness to learn about yarn, design and sales shined. In the spring of this year, Kaelin began her journey as a sales rep. Having great customer service and a big heart has helped guide her into her new role. She is an asset at Plymouth. I personally love consulting with her on yarn and pattern trends. She enjoys hosting trunk shows for Plymouth and contributing any knitting trends to the designers and the Plymouth customers.

Kaelin is great at helping guide shops to incorporate the best creative, functional, and current trends into the shops. She is very unique if she isn’t knitting or searching for new designs she is spending time with her very big family or fishing on the weekends.

Kaelin is modelling my newest design. I’m always on the lookout for the perfect pattern that I like to come back to, again and again. Alas, the criteria for such a pattern is high for me.

Here is a working list of some of the must haves for that perfect pattern:

1. Quick to knit, must take 1-2 days to make, no more than that!

2. It must keep my attention- something that isn’t just boring stockinet or garter.

3. Should require only 1-2 skeins. Bonus if it is only 1 skein. I need to use up those impulse buy skeins I get when I go yarn shopping! (You know what I am talking about- they call your name… and you don’t know what to do with them but you can’t just leave them on the shelf!!)

This brings me to my newest design- Twisted Column Mitts.

These mitts meet all of these requirements for me! They only took me one evening to make. They have a simple cable that adds interest. Lastly, they only require one skein of bouncy, washable and durable DK Merino Superwash.

Mitt (make 2)
CO 40 sts, divide the sts onto 4 DPNs. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. PM. Work in 1×1 rib (k1 st, p1 st) for 10 rounds. Beg working in twist columns pattern. Work 22 rounds twist columns pattern- end having worked round 8 of twist columns.Thumb: Work round 9 of twist columns across 20 sts, pm, m1 twice by picking up the bar between the 2 sts with the left hand needle from front to back, k this st tbl, pick up the same bar with left hand needle from back to front and k this st (2 sts inc’d.), pm, work round 9 of twist columns across 20 sts.Next Round: Work next round of twist columns across 20 sts, sl m, k to m, sl m, work next round of twist columns across 20 sts.Inc Round: Work next round of twist columns across 20 sts, sl m, m1, k to m, m1, sl m, work next round of twist columns across 20 sts. Rep the last 2 rows until there are 12 sts in between the m- end having worked round 5 of twist columns.Next Round: Work round 6 of twist columns across 20 sts, sl m, p across 12 sts in between m, sl m, work round 8 of twist columns across 20 sts.Next Round: Work round 7 of twist columns across 20 sts, remove m, BO in k the 12 sts for the thumb, remove m, work round 7 of twist columns across 20 sts. 40 sts on needles. Work in twist columns pattern as established for 4 more rounds- end having worked round 11. Then work in 1×1 rib for 7 rounds. BO in rib on next round. Make another mitt. Weave in all ends.

I’m sure by now you have seen Creative Knitting’s beautiful All Season Throws issue released in August. It’s an amazing edition full of gorgeous throws that are perfect for every occasion. Plymouth Yarn can be found throughout the entire magazine in 14 different designs ranging from beginner to expert. Each and every one of them would make a perfect gift or treasure for yourself if you don’t want to share! Take a look at your favorite Plymouth Yarns featured in these pictures below. Photos courtesy of Creative Knitting Magazine.

I Love Yarn Day….As opposed to what??? Who would dare say the opposite even out loud!!?

Even people who don’t knit/crochet/spin/weave/needlepoint walk into a Yarn Shop and are in awe of the beauty. The colors, the textures, the creativity just oozing out of every corner can make almost anyone swoon. Believe me, I have taken my husband into shops and when he comments about it, I know I am not half crazy.

So when you find yourself in a slump, doldrums, or caught between a rock and a loss of the next project, step into you LYS or better yet the next yarn shop down the street for variety, and see what transpires! Look over the shelves of yarns, gadgets, and then peruse the books. OH! The Books!!!

This leads me to a few we have found inspiring! Martingale and Plymouth are doing a cross promotion. Check out their website. We will be having a contest. To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post. (One winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday October 15th!) The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate for any book from Martingale of your choice. Then head to Martingale and see what Plymouth will be giving away on their website! Cool?! Yeah, cool!! This one is my fave! Check it out:

Nice, huh? So, reply to our blog entry and you will be automatically entered into our random drawing for the Martingale gift certificate. Then go to Martingale’s website and see how you can win a great pattern and yarn from Plymouth! We will announce the lucky winner of the Martingale gift certificate on Tuesday the 15th of October (since Monday is Columbus Day!).

1. Knitters and crocheters-tweet and tell us your favorite local yarn shop!You MUST tag us with @PlymouthYarn and use the hashtag #ILovePlymouthYarn, you can also use #ILoveYarnDay.For example: @PlymouthYarn, The ABC Yarn shop is the best #ILovePlymouthYarnor @PlymouthYarn, The ABC Yarn shop is the best #ILoveYarnDay.

2. Yarn Shops-tweet and tell us your favorite Plymouth Yarn!You MUST tag us with @PlymouthYarn and use the hashtag #ILovePlymouthYarn, you can also use #ILoveYarnDay. Feel free to hastag your shop too!For Example:@PlymouthYarn the Gina yarn is our best seller! #ILovePlymouthYarnor @PlymouthYarn the Gina yarn is our best seller! #ILoveYarnDay

One yarn shop will win 10 balls of Encore Mega in I Love Yarn Day themed colors

Knitters and Crocheters, You can win one of 4 prizes that include 2 skeins
of a quick project and pattern, great for the holidays!

Winners will be chosen at random on Monday October 14th and notified by direct message if available.